SOJOURN IN MOGADISHU: Reflections on Politics, Civic Engagement, and Scholarship

For over two decades, Somalia has been a byword for violence, displacement and destitution, corruption, and overall squalor -- marks of a "failed state." A large part of this image is accurate. Yet, in this seemingly bottomless ruin, hints of hope are visible. This is propelled by a return of some of the elements of the spirit of citizenship that is in search of an ordered public life and development. The presentation will touch upon, among others, these two questions:

What is the nature of the Somali condition?

What does the Somali moment tells about the relationship between civic engagement, leadership, and scholarship?